Folding box



March 12, 1929. SALOMON 1,705,313

- FOLDING BOX Filed Jan. 23, 1928 INVEN TOR.

, ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.-

UNITED stares MAX SALOMoN, or wns'r srniu'errnnn, miissacnosnrrs.

FOLDING BOX.

Application filed January 23, 192%., Serial No. 248,797.

This invention relates to improvements in folding containers or boxes and is directed more particularly to containers known as folding suit boxes.

It is usual to provide boxes, the parts of which are formed by folding up suitable scored and cut blanks; but in order to pro vide boxes which are strong and durable it has been necessary to use for the blanks high grade material such as cardboard which is heavy and stiff so that the boxes as a result are expensive to manufacture; and as they are ordinarily given gratis to purchasers by clothiers, cleaners and the like, their cost is a serious consideration.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of an inexpensive foldable box and is accomplished by the provision of a single sheet of substantially thin inexpensive material which is suitably formed, scored and reinforced by relatively heavy material or stiff material in such a manner that when the sheet is folded up the reinforcing mate rial forms a frame whichprovides the desired rigidity for the box and supports the less expensive relatively thin material. To this end, I am enabled to produce a box or container which is not only light in weight but low in cost and has the same characteristics as to rigidity and strength as the more expensive boxes made from cardboardor the like.

The structure of my invention may be made in various shapes and sizes as may be desired to provide foldable boxes for various purposes, but in the form at present preferred will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a single sheet of material -which is suitably scored, formed and reinforced so as to be foldable or formed into the shape of box desired;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet and reinforcement as it appears when folded up into box-like form; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a modification of the invention wherein means are provided for locking the ends of the reinforcing members together.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a sheet 1 is shown which is formed or cut so as to have a central body portion 1', end flaps 2 and 3 and side flaps 4 and 5 with portions 12, 13 and 1414 for providing the upper and lower sides and ends of the box.

This sheet is preferably of some thin inexpensive material such' as paper or the like z t nd may be scored, if necessary, on the lines o as shown so that the end flaps may be folded and provide the ends and sides for the box between the flaps and body. 7

Reinforcingstrips 7, preferably of cardboard or some material which is relatively stiff as compared with the material of the sheet, are secured to the sheet and have ex tensions 8 which extend outwardly from the sheet as shown and are adapted to overlap when the sheet is folded into box form. These strips are scored as at C to facilitate bending, and the sheet may be scored, if necessary, for bending along the side edges C of the reinforcing members although it may be de sired to employthe edges of the strips for a bending edge for the sheet.

The side flap 5 of the sheet is preferably longer than the side flap 4 so that they may be brought into overlapping relation, and buttons 8, 9 and 10 are carried by the flaps 2, 3 and 5, as shown; while a string or cord 11 has one end secured to the button 10 and is provided for cooperating with the other buttons for securing the flaps in overlapped relationwhen the sheet is folded up to form the box.

To form the box, the sheet is folded at C adjacent the edges of the reinforcing strips while the flaps 4i and 5 are brought into overlapping relation and the reinforcing strip extensions 8 are folded towards one another and brought into overlapping relation at opposite ends of the box-like form. Then the end flaps 2 and 3 are folded on their scoring lines so that the portions 14k and 14 thereof overlie the overlapping ends of the reinforcing strips. The flaps 2 and 3 are brought over onto the overlapping side flaps 4 and 5, and the tie cord 11 is then'made fast to the buttons 8 and 9 and serves to hold the side and end flaps in their overlapping rela tion.

If desired, the ends of the reinforcin strips 8 may be provided with slits 15, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the ends of the strips may be locked or secured together. This may not be necessary or desirable since the end flaps 2 and 3 and the portions 14 of the sheet embrace or overlie the said ends in such a manner as will hold them in place in their overlapped relation.

A handle. H in the form of a cord or the like may be secured to one of the members 7 and will serve as a handle for carrying the box when folded up as in Fig. 1.

When the sheet and reinforcing strips are folded as explained, the reinforcing strips form a substantially rigid frame around the upper and lower sides'and ends of the box and give to the box its form, and at the same time support the less stiff or rigid sheet which provides the overlapping flaps for enclosing the box and holding the reinforcing strips and their extensions in the frame like formation. Thus it will be observed that I have provided a foldable box which has reinforcing members which form a frame-like support to which is secured the sheet for providing the covering for and holding the frame. members in place.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the form of the invention Without departing from the scope thereof, and I prefer therefore to be limited, if at all, by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is:

1. A blank for folding into box like form comprising, a sheet of material formed to have a body portion to provide one side wall, wall portions extending from each side of said body portion to provide upper and lower walls and end walls for a box, flaps extending from each of said wall portions and reinforcing strips overlying said upper and lower Wall portions at upper and lower sides of said body portion which extend outwardly from opposite sides of said wall portions all adapted and arranged whereby the blank when folded will provide a box which is reinforced at the upper and lower sides and at opposite ends by the reinforcing strips which overlap at said opposite ends while the side and end flaps overlap to provide a side of said box opposite to that formed by the body portion.

2. A collapsible box blank of bendable material comprising, a body portion to provide a rear side for a box, upper and lower sections connected at an inner edge to upper and lower side edges of said body portion to provide upper and lower sides of a box, end sections connected at an inner edge to opposite end edges of said body to provide opposite ends of a box, upper and lower side flaps coir eo ed to the outer edges of said upper and lower sections respectively which are adapted be folded into overlapping relation so as to provide a forward side for said box, reinforcing strips extending across and secured to the upper and lower sections which are longer than said sections so as to provide fold-able portions which extend beyond opposite ends of said sections whereby the end portions of one strip may be brought into overlapping relations with those of the other to provide reinforcement for the ends of said box and which may underlie and be retained in overlapped relation by the end sections of the blank and end flaps connected to the outer edgesof said end sections which may be folded into overlapping relation and over the said upper. and lower side flaps when in overlapped relation and means associated with the ends of said flaps for securin them so that the upper and lower flaps are retained in overlapped relation andthe foldable portions of the reinforcing strips are held in their overlapped relation by the end sections.

In testimony whereofI have affixed my signature.

I MAX SALOMON. 

